Telephone-exchange system



7 Nov. 23 1926.

I 1,607,903 W. H. MATTHIES TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM I Filed March 26. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 23 1926. 1,607,903

w. H. MATTHIES TELEPHONE sxcmucm SYSTEM Filed March 26. 1925 :s Sheets-S heet 2 Nov. 23 1926.

w. H. MATTHIES TELEPEONB EXCHANGE SYSTEM Filegl March 26. 1925 s Shpets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1, 07,903 PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM H. MATTHIES, OF HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO \VIESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY. INCQBPORA'IED, .A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

Application filed March 26. 1925. Serial No. 18,391.

This invention relates to automatic tele-' phone exchange systems and more especially to telephone systems whereln line finders are employed for extending calling lines to idle outgoing trunks.

In automatic telephone systems which ourploy' power driven line finder switches in co operation with tie so-called panel type of multiple bank, an appreciable lnterval elapses under certain conditions between the moment of initiation of call and the moment when calling line is connected to an outgoing trunk. This feature is par ticularly objectionable in systems where return to normal line finder switches are em-. ployed or wherein the multiple banks com-.

price a considerable number of called line terminals. For example, should the multiple bank be so arranged as to accommodate one hundred calling lines an appreciable time elapses before a calling line is connected with an outgoing trunk, more especially when his calling line is located in the upper portion of the bank.

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prising a plurality of brushes, certain of said brushes being adapted to hunt for calling lines when the switch is moving in one direction and other of said brushes being switch is moving in an opposite direction.

Another feature relates to a continuously hunting line finder switch ,wherein the brushes are tripped in pairs.

A still further feature relates to an an rangement of line finder switches certain f the switches being adapted when moving in one direction to hunt for a particular calling line and other of the switches being adapted when moving in an opposite direction to hunt for the same calling line;

A further feature of the in'vention'relates to the novel means for tripping It is an object of this invention to .great-.

to a switch of the power driven type com adapted to hunt for calling lines when the The invention is described in connection witha 400 point power drivenpanel bank line finder switch for the purpose of showing one advantageous use of the invention. It is understood, however, that the invention iscapable of a wide variety of uses and is to be limited only by the scopeof the ap-i pended claims. I i

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a number of subscribers lines with the line and cut-off relays individual to each line as well as a common start wire. I

Fig. 2 shows a portion of the line finder multiple bank and the cooperating multiple brushes. The portion of this figure to the left of the broken line represents the. front of the line finder bank and the portion to the right of the broken line represents the rear of the same line finder bank.

Fig. group being individual to one of the line finder switches shown in Fig. 2.

Fig; 4 represents a side view of one of the multiple brushes represented schematically in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 represents a plan view of a multiple brush.

lVhen Figs- 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing are arranged as shown in 'Fig. 6, sufficient details of the circuit arrangements'are disclosed to enable a. complete understanding to be obtained of a preferred form of carrying out the invention.

General description.

Referring to Fig. 2 there are shown two groups of power driven line finder switches, one group including switches 201 and 202, the other group including-switches 203 and 20d. Switches 201 and 202 together with the associated driving apparatus are located in the front of the line terminal bank, while switches 203 and 204'together with their as sociated driving apparatus are located in the rear of the same bank. As "is wellun derstood, the various sets of multiple terminals extend outwardly from the front and rear of the panels. For the purpose of sef curing simplicity in the drawings the front and rear portions of the banks areshown in developed form.

In Fig. 2 there are shown fourpanels to a bank numbered 0, 1, 2 and 3 successively.

In practice each panel would accommodate 3 shows groups of control relays, each in the front of the bank and project from the plate 206 in an upward and downward direction, while pins 228 and 229 are located in the rear of the bank and project through plate In Fig. 2 the updrive circuit is shown prepared by means of switches 236, 259, etc, for all the brush rods. According ly the brushes No. 0 and No. 2 on the front and the brushes No. 1 and No. 3 on the rear of the bank are untrippedas indicated by the position of-t-he spacing pieces 232, 246 233, 27 2, 247, 248, etc., while brushes No.

1 and No. 3 in the front and brushes Nos. 0'

and 2 in the rear are shown tripped. The finders have no normal position but are arranged to remain in the last operated posi tion.

Assume that line finders 201, 203 and 204 alone are idle when a call is initiated on line 101 then all these idle line finders are started simultaneously to hunt for the calling line. bank is tripped but it is above the terminals of the calling line 101. However on the rear of bank it will be noted that finder switch 204 is approaching the limit of its upward movement as indicated by the engagement of pin 251, with the switch arm 252. Accordingly the downwardly projecting pin 230 engages the trip lever of brush 239, as hereinbefore described, causing the contact springs of brush 239 to assume the operated position. Immediately thereafter the arm 252 closes the circuit of the downdrive magnet 249. In this case brush 239 being tripped hunts over the terminals of panel No. 3 and when the calling line 101 is reached the start circuit is opened causing the deenergization of the driving magnetsof finders .201, 203 and 204. Finder 204 is immediately rendered busy and finders 201 and 203 re main in this position until the initiation of another call.

Detailedv description.

Let it be assumed that when the subscriber at line 101 initiates a call the finder switches 201, 203 and 204 are idle and switch 202 is busy. The removal of the receiver by the calling subscriber causes line relay 102 to operate by means of a circuit which is completed from battery through, the winding of said relay, right contact of relay 103, ring conductor of the calling line, through apparatus at the calling substation, over the tip side of the line to ground at the left contacts of relay 103. Relay 102 in operating extends ground through its left contacts, to the start wire 151, to cause the operation of start relays 301,303 and 304. Since finder 202 is assumed busy, relay 305 individual Brush 220 on the front of the thereto is operated in the manner described hereinafter thus preventing the operation of start relay 302. Relay 102 also connects battery through the right contacts of said relay to the hunting conductor 152, and thence to the multiple hunting terminals of line 101 in panel No. 3. A circuit is now completed for the updrive magnets 231, 253 and 254. The circuit for operating magnet 231may be traced from battery through the winding of said magnet, lower contact of transfer switch 236, conductor 270, left contacts of relays 301 and 306 to ground at the left contact of relay 307. Similar circuits may be traced for the updrive magnets 2.53 and 254.

The energization of magnet 231 causes brush rod 214 to ascend until the reset lever of brush 220 encounters the plate 225where by the contact springs of brush 220 are removed from operative relation with the No. 3 panel contacts. Immediately thereafter projection 256 engages the transfer switch arm236 causing the same to engage its upper contact. The circuit above traced for ener gizing magnet 231 is now tiansferred to magnet 257 whereby brush rod 214 is caused to descend. The brush 220 having been reset, this finder during its downward moveswitch 236 the downdrive magnet 249 is now energized and rod 258 descends, trailing the springs of brush 239 over the terminals of the No. 3panel. It maybe gathered fromthe positions of brushes 220. and 239 as shown in the drawing, that brush 239 will be the first to reach the terminals of line 101 during the downward movement,

whereby a circuit-is completed from battery through the right contacts of relay 102, conductor 152, huntingterminal and corresponding hunting spring of brush 239, conductor 351, both windings of relay 308, winding of relay 310 to ground at the contacts of relay 309. Relay 308 operates in this last mentioned circuit but the resistance of its right hand winding is sufficiently high to prevent the energization of relay 310. When relay 308 attracts its armature, however, the righthand winding of said relay is short circuitedthus permitting sufficient current to flow throughthe winding of relay 310 to cause the operation of the same. Relay 310 in operating breaks the circuit for the downdrivemagnet 249 thus stopping tery applied to it in a manner the brush 239 on the terminals of the calling line. A circuit may now be traced from battery, through the left winding of relay 311, front contacts of relay 310, to ground at the contactof relay 313. Relay 311 locks by means of a circuit which is completed from battery, through the left winding and left front contacts of said relay, normal con tacts of relay 312 to ground at the outer front contacts of relay 311. Pelay 311 also extends ground through its outer front contacts and thence through the winding of relay 309, left outer back contacts of relay 314, conductor 353, sleeve spring of brush 239, and thence to the sleeve conductor of line 101, to battery through the winding of cut off relay 103. Relays 103 and 309 are energized in this circuit. Relay 103 causes the release of line relay 102. Rela 309 when operated renders line finder 20s busy and relay 102 in releasing removes ground from the conductor 151 whereby the driving magnets of finders 201 and 203 are deenergized. The calling line 101 is now'ejtended through springs of brush 239, bacl: contacts of relay 314 to the trunk 352. Relay 102 in releasing also brings about the release of relays 308 and 310 but relay 311 remains locked under the control of relay 312.

It will be noted that duplicate test relay. as 313 and test relays 313 and are eii octive when the calling lines are situated in either No. 0

st relays 303 and calling lines are o. r mould or No. 1 panels whereas,

310 are eifectiye when the on line 101, and assume that these lines ions in their to Since irushes and occupy corresponding pos.

spective panels. are tripped 1n synchroni 1r brush 239 locates calling line will also be positioned on he calling line 101. in this case test relay."

and 315 will be operated over circ its siinilar to those described in connection with re lays 310 and 308. Relays 315 will be operated over a circu traceable fro r ground through the both windings of c hunting spring of or the hunting conduce 1 ftilCL described in connection with lay 313 in operat i. prevents the operation of relay 311 at this time and causestheoperation of switching relay 31 1 by means of an obvious circuit. Relay 814 in operating exsets of are provided. The r n 1 1 13 hen at me time tends the tip and ring conductors of the calling line 104- to the trunk 352. Relay 313 also opens the circuit of the 'downdrive magnet 249 causing the brush rod 258 to come to rest. l-Erusu 239 is now in contact vii h the line 101 but line 101 is not ii tau, C2351 connected to the trunk 352 because of the operation of the itching relay 31 'llheret'ore the cut elf relay 102 is notoperated at this time and the start wire 151 regrounded is causing the other hunting line finders 201 and 203 to continue hunting until the line 1.01 is located. iVhen the switching relay 31% operates as described a Cl'lC it is completed battery through the right minding of relay 311, right contact of relay 304-, locking contact of relay 31 1-, conductor 356, to ground through the contact sleeve contact of the multiple brush 237, and

the; cc to the sleeve conductor of lin 104, to i v through the winding of cut oil relay which operates in series withrelay 309 the manner already described. Fhe opion of the cut of? relay 105 causes the .00 which removes the hunt- 4 condition from conductor 15? thus causthe release of relays 315 and 313. Since of? relay-103, however, is not energized .ause of the operation of switching relay relay 102 remains operated and the condition continues to exist on con-' 151. Consequently the other line of relays 306, 313, 316, 317, etc,

calling" line 101 is located.

f the drawing it w ll be noted ircuits of the updrive magnets are prepared by means of the transfer s downcrive circuits prepared depending upon the position las assumed by the various line finders in their hunting operation. For 6X- ample, a result of the previous operation of transfer switch 259, the upper contact ins at any instant, certain of the line finders will be nearer than others to a particular l ne when a call 1s initiated on thls line and ders 201 and 203 continue to hunt under this taken in conjunction with the fact tnat the brush on the front of the bank may be hunting upwardly while the corresponding brush on the rear of the bank may be hunt- Iing downwardly for the same line greatly 1. In an automatic telephone system, telephone lines, an automatic switch adapted for movement in different directions comprising fixed terminals in which said lines terminate and a plurality of brushesarranged to be moved as a unit, certain of said brushes adapted to hunt for electrically distinguished lines only during one movement of said switch and other of said brushes adapted to hunt for electrically distinguished lines only during a different movement of said switch.

2. In an automatic telephone system, telephone lines, a two-movement automatic switch comprising fixed terminals and a plurality of brushes arranged to be moved as a unit, means for causing certain ofi said brushes to hunt for electrically distinguished terminals only during one movement of said switch, and means for causing other of said brushes to hunt for electrically distinguished terminals only during a different movement of said switch.

8. In a telephone system, calling lines, an automatic switch adapted for reciprocating motion and comprising a plurality of sets of brushes arranged to be moved as a unit, means for causing one set of brushes to hunt for calling lines during only one-half of the motion of said switch. and means for causing another of said sets of brushes to hunt for calling lines during only the other half of the motion of said switch.

4. In an automatic telephone system, calling lines, a plurality of panel type line finders, each finder comprising a plurality of sets of multiple brushes arranged to be moved as a unit, a switch for each line finder for controlling the direction of movement thereof, each switch controlled by the movement of the associated finder, means for causing one set of brushes of a finder to hunt for calling lines during one position of the associated switch, and means for caus ing another set of brushes on said finder to hunt for calling lines during another position of said switch.

5. In combination, telephone lines, an automatic switch comprising a row of circuit terminals in which said lines terminate, a plurality of multiple brushes arranged to be moved in opposite directions over said terminals, means iOl' causing certain of said brushes to seize circuit terminals during only one direction of movement, and means for causingother of said sets of brushes to seize terminals during only a different direction of movement.

6. Incombination, telephone lines, an automatic switch comprising a row of circuit terminals-in which said lines terminate, a plurality of pairs of brushes normally. out of contact with said terminals, means for bringing one brush of a pair into cooperative relation with said terminals, and means for simultaneously taking the other brush of a said pair out of cooperative relation with said terminals.

7. In combination, telephone lines, an automatic switch comprising a row of circuit terminals in which said lines terminate, a plurality of pairs of multiple brushes normally out of contact with said terminals, means for bringing one pairrof multiple brushes into contact with said terminals, and means for simultaneously taking another pair of multiple brushes out of contact with said terminals.

8. In combination, telephone lines, an automatic switch comprising a row of circuit terminals in which said lines terminate, a plurality of groups of multiple brushes each group adapted to be moved as a unit, each brush having a tripped and set positions, means for tripping the brushes in certain groups, and means for simultaneously setting the brushes in the other groups.

9. In combination, telephone lines, an automatic switch comprising a row of circuit terminals in which said lines terminate, a plurality of groups 01 multiple brushes each group adapted to be moved as a unit, each brush having a tripped and a set position, and means for simultaneously tripping the brushes of certain groups and for setting the brushes of the other groups after the last terminal in said row has been reached.

10. In combination, telephone lines, an automatic switch adapted for movement in differentdirections comprising a row of circuit terminals in which said line is terminate, a plurality of groups of multiple brushes adapted to be moved as a unit, each brush having a tripped and a set position, and means for simultaneously tripping one group of brushes and for setting another group of brushes when the limit of motion of said switch in any direct-ion has been reached.

11. In an automatic telephone system, a plurality of telephone lines, a plurality of line finders having no normal position, means responsive to the initiation of a call on one 01" said lines for starting all of said line finders which are idle, means for causing said line finders to hunt for said line only during one direction of movement, and

Cal

means for causing other of said line finders to hunt for said line only during a different direction of movement.

12. In an automatic telephone system, a plurality of lines arranged in groups, a plurality of line finders arranged in groups, each line finder carrying a plurality of brushes, each brush corresponding to one of said groups of lines, means'responsive to the initiation of a call on one of said lines for starting a plurality of line finders, means for causing brushes corresponding to the particular group in which the calling line is located to hunt for said line only during downward movement, and means for causing other brushes corresponding to said particu lar group to hunt for said line only during upward movement.

13. In combination, telephone lines, an automatic switch comprising fixed terminals in which said lines terminate, a plurality of sets of multiple brushes arranged to be moved continuously upwardly and downwardly over said terminals, means for tripping certain sets of said brushes when the limit of upward movement is reached, and means for tripping other of said brushes when the limit of downward movement is reached.

14. In combination, telephone lines, an automatic switch comprising lined terminals in which said lines tern'iinate, a plurality of sets of brushes arranged to be moved contin uously in an upward and downward direction over said terminals, means for tripping a first set of said brushes and for simultaneously resetting a second set of said brushes when the limit of upward movement is reached, and means for tripping a third set of brushes and simultaneously resetting a fourth set of brushes when the limit of downward movement is reached.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day of March, A. D. 1925.

WILLIAM H. MATTHIES. 

